Frame structure for ventilating fans



Sept. 7, 1948; P. E. HORD FRAME STRUCTURE FOR VENTILATING FANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 10, 1947 lnvemor Pau/ 5. Hard Gttomeg;

Sept. 7, 1948. p, HORD 2,448,671

FRAME STRUCTURE FOR VENTILATING FANS Filed March 10, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 74 x \l HM f I V h. 27 26 (yo 7/ 23 34 lnncntor Paul 5. Hard Gttornegs 7 device taken on a line 3-3 Fig. 1.

Patented Sept. 1, 1948 UNITED. STATES.

&448571 FRAME STRUCTUFI RENgOB VENTILATING Paul a. Hord, Tebbetts, Mo.

Application March 10, 1947; Serial No. 133,000

Claims. 1

This invention relates to ventilating fans, and more particularly to a framework structure for supporting a fan in a window opening.

Ventilating fans of this character have heretofore been provided, but usually it has been necessary to provide a fixed mounting on the window frame to mount the fan in the window opening which requires a more or less permanent mounting or permanent fittings to receive and support the unit. Further, with such devices it is necessary to detach the fan from the window in order to close the window sash.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a frame supporting structure for a ventilating fan having side panels adjustable with respect to the fan supporting housing to contact the faces of the window frame and retain the panels in engagement with said frame; to provide a device of this character adapted to engage the base of the window frame inside the window sash; to provide an adjustable frame supporting structure to adapt the device to fit windows of different width; to provide a device of this character having a fan housing section with end panels telescopingly and slidably engaging the housing section; to provide means exteriorly of the housing for moving the end panels with respect'to the housing section; to provide a ventilating appa ratus of this character which can readily be placed and maintained in operative position in a window opening without auxiliary fastening meansp and to provide a device of this character simple, economical to manufacture and eflicient in operation.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: r

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a ventilatingl apparatus embodying the features of my invention taken from the rear thereof and showing the device attached to the window frame.

Fig. 2 is a cross section through the device taken on a line 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view thr h the Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the device taken on a line 4-4, Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the panel section of the device.

Fig. 6 is a disassembled perspective view of the frame particularly illustratingthe means for fastening the guard on the device.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of a modified form of the invention particularly illustrating the means for moving the panel sections.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a frame construction for a venti- 5 lating fan embodying the features of my invention adapted to engagein a window opening 2 of a frame shaving the usual sill 4 and side faces 5. My supporting frame structure for the fan is particularly adapted. for use in blowing the air out of the room, although it may be adapted for blowing air into the room ifdesired.

The framework structurecomprises a fan housing 6 which includes a central section of the structure and consists of a sheet of material, preferably of substantially flat metal, having a central opening I. The edge of the opening I is provided with a laterally directed flange I forming a cowling for a fan as now to be described. A motor 8 including the usual shaft 9 upon which ismounted a. plurality of fan blades In is preferably pmltioned coaxlally of the opening I with the fan blades operating inside the flange I. The motor is supported on the housing by brackets II and I2 having arms I3 and I4 and I5 and I6. respectively, with their outer ends secured to the housing by bolts or the like ll, rubber bushings or other resilient mounting l'l' preferably being provided between the bolts and the housing to reduce noise and the like. The inner portions of the brackets are substantially semi-circular asindicated at l8 and I9 and are adapted to engage the motor housing by bolts or the like 20 and 2| for supporting the motor in the structure.

The flat sheet portion of the housing 6 has upper and lower edge flanges 22 and 23 each ex- 7 tending at substantially a right angle to the flat sheet portion 8, the edges of the flanges 22 and 23 being bent forming channel-shaped trackways 24 and 25 on the upper and lower edges of the housing.

Panels 26 and 21 are provided for slidablyengaging with the housing on each end thereof for adjusting the framework structure to engage the face of the window frame and retain the structure in the window opening. The panelsare made of sheet metal or the like and comprise strips 28 of such material having upper and lower edge flanges 2 9 and 30 each extending atsubstantially a right angle to the flat sheet portion 28. The outer edges of the end panels are also provided with flanges 3| bent inwardly at substantially a' right angle to the hat sheet portion 28 forming a plane surface 32 on the outer edges of such panels. Formed integral with and extending from the in is a threaded pin 95. Spaced below the opening in the flange is a bearing 61 secured to the lower surface of the flange 22 of the housing by rivets. or the like 66. A threaded collar 69 is provided on the threaded shank of the bolt 35 having laterally extending ears 46 to which are pivotally attached adjusting arms 4| and 42 provided on their outer ends with a. plurality of notches 46 and 44 adapted to engage in slots 46 of the flanges 46 of angle members 41 and 46 secured to the panel members 26 and 21 by weld-- ing or other suitable means. A crank 49' is provided on the upper end of the pin 35 and rigidly secured thereto for rotation of the pin for moving the collar 69 upwardly and downwardly thereon. Rotation of the crank 49 to lower the collar 69 on the pin 35 will cause downward movement of the inner ends of the arms 4| and 42 to push the end panels 26 and 21 outwardly to engage the faces of the window frame. The notches 49 and 44 in the respective ends of the arms provide for adjustment of the respective lengths of the arms to avoid excessive turning of the handle when the structure is to be inserted in a window i opening.

A guard 56 is provided for the motor and fan which comprises a top portion 5| having its inner end provided with a downwardly turned flange 52. The front edge of the top plate is rounded as indicated at 53 (Fig. 6) and has its outer end turned downwardly forming a flange 54. A bottom late 55 is provided of substantially the same shape as the upper plate and is flanged on its inner end as indicated at 56 and on the outer end as indicated at 51. A wire screen or the like 56 is provided for engagement around the front edge of the top and bottom plates within the flanges 54 and 51, respectively. The outer edges of the plane surface of the housing 6 are provided with turned flanges 59 and 66 (Fig. 2), and the upper edge 22 of the housing is provided with spaced brackets or hooks 6! adapted to receive the downturned flange 52 of the top plate 5i of the guard, the side edges of the guard being secured to the flanges 56 and 66 by bolts or the like 62 (Fig. 2) for retaining the guard on the housing, the guard engagingover the flanged portion 1' of the housing as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Operation of a device constructed and assembled as described is as follows:

The side panels 26 and 21 may be adjusted to approximately the size of the window opening 2 and the notches of the arms engaged in the slots of the angle members 41 and 46 so that the side panels will fit in the window opening. The bottom of the framework structure is positioned on the sill 4 of the-window with the blades of the fan pointed outwardly and the guard housing extending inwardly from the window opening. The crank 49 is then turned to lower the collar 19 on the pin 35 to cause the end panels 26 and 21 to move outwardly into contact with the side faces of the window frame 3. I preferably provide resilient material, such as rubber or the like 66, on the plane surface 32 of the side edges 01- the panels 26 and 21 to provide a resilient contact of the panels with the window face, thus providing a tight fit of the structure in the window opening and preventing vibration of the structure. I also provide the upper edges of the panels with lugs 61 and 66 having notches in which-are adapted to be engaged screws or the like 69 and 10 to assist in retaining the structure in rigid relation with the window frame.

The structure may be removed from the window opening by reverse turning of the crank to raise the collar 36 on the pin 35 to withdraw the panels 26 and 21 from contact with the window frame, the lugs 61 and 66 being removed from the screws by disengagement of the notches from the screws.

With the framework structure mounted as described, it will be obvious that it does not interfere with closing of the window sash 65 as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The motor 6 is provided with the usual electrical conductors leading to a source of energy (not shown) for operation of the fan. Also carried by the motor side of the flat surface of the housing 6 is a switch 1l having connection with the conductors and source of energy supply (not shown) for energizing the motor operable, the switch being operable through an opening 12 in the top plate 5| of the guard.

Fig. '7 illustrates a modified form of the means for moving the end panels 26 and 21 into engagement with the face of the window frame. This means consists of an angle bar 13 rigidly mounted vertically substantially midway of the housing 6 and across the opening 1. The bar 13 is secured in the respectivetop and bottom edges of the channel members of the housing by welding or pther suitable means. The flange 14 of the angle bar is provided at substantially midway thereof with a notched portion 15 adapted to receivea bearing 16 of a turnbuckle or the like 11 having right and left threads. Threaded rods 16 and 19 are adapted to screwthreadedly engage in the turnbuckle 11. Channel members 60 and 6| are secured to the flat sheet 28 of the end sections 26 and 21 by rivets or other suitable means. The channel members extend inwardly from the end sections providing shanks 62 and 63. The shanks are provided with a plurality of notches 64 and 65. Links 66 and 61 are provided for connecting the rods 16 and 19 with the channel members for sliding the end sections in the trackways of the housing. The links are pivotally mounted to the rods 16 and 19 as indicated at 66 and 69 and their outer ends are provided with pins and iii adapted to engage in the notches 64 and 65 of the shanks of the channel members, respectively.

In the form of the invention shown'in Fig. '1 the frame structure is placed in the window opening and the end panels adjusted to flt against the face of the window frame as in the preferred form of the invention, the pins of the links 66 and 61 being inserted in the notches to accommodate the structure to the opening of the window. By operation of the turnbuckle 11 by hand or a suitable instrument the rods 16 and 19 will be extended outwardly from the turnbuckle. The panel sections 26 and 21 will, therefore, be urged outwardly by the links 66 and 61 against the face of the window frame to support the frame structure in the window opening.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that I have provided an improved adjustable framework structure which may be easily mounted in a guide members slidable in saidv trackways and adapted to engage the sides of the window frame housing having a central opening, means for supporting the fan in the housing coaxial with said opening, a pair of extension panels slidably connected with the respective sides of said housing, a threaded rod rotatably carried by and depending from the top member of said housing, a threaded collar on said rod, and links connecting said collar with said panels, whereby said panels are extended on said housing so that their outer side edges engage the faces of the window frame.

2. A frame for a window ventilating fan comprising, top, bottom and side members forming a housing having a central opening, means for supporting the fan in the housing coaxial with said opening, a pair of extension panels slidably connected with the respective sides of said housing, a threaded rod rotatably carried by and depending from the top member of said housing, a threaded collar on said rod, and links having their inner ends pivotally connected to said collar and their outer ends releasably engaging said panels, whereby said panels are extended on said housing so that their outer side edges faces of the window frame.

3. A frame for a window ventilating fan comprising, top, bottom and side members forming a housing having a central opening, means for supporting the fan in the housing coaxial with said opening, a pair of extension panels slidably connected with the respective sides of said housing, a threaded rod rotatably carried by and depending from the top member of said housing, a threaded engage the.

collar on said rod, links having their inner ends pivotally connected to said collar and their outer ends releasably engaging said panels, whereby said panels are extended on said housing so that their outer side edges engage the faces of the window frame, and means on said links for changing the effective length of said links to vary the spread of said panels with respect to the housing.

4. A ventilator adapted to be mounted on a sill of a window frame inside the lower sash and used to ventilate a room comprising, a central supporting panel having an opening therein. a peripheral flange around said opening and projecting from the panel oppositely of the window frame. a fan, means mounted on the panel for supporting said fan coaxial with said opening, means for drivin said fan for removing air from the room and through the opening. a housing including a screen secured to said central panel for enclosing the fan and driving means therefor, flanges in the top and bottom edges of said panel for forming trackways, end sections forsaid panel having to close the space between the sides of the panel and said frame, a collar, links having their inner ends pivotally connected to said collar and their outer ends reieasably engaging said sections, and means on the'central panel for moving the collar vertically towards a direct line between the points of engagement of the links and sections for moving said sections into engagement with the sides of the window frame.

5. A ventilator adapted to be mounted on a sill of a window frame inside of the lower sash and used to ventilate a room comprising a central.

supporting panel having an opening therein, a peripheral flange around said opening and pro- Jecting from the panel opposite of the window frame, a fan, brackets mounted on the panel for supporting said fan coaxial with said opening, means for driving said fan for moving air from a room and through the opening, flanges in the top and bottom edges of the panel for forming trackways, end sections for said panels having guide members slidable in said trackways and adapted to engage the sides of the window frame to fill the space between the sides of the panel and said frame, a threaded rod rotatably carried by and depending from the upper portion of said panel, a threaded collar on said rod, links having inner ends pivotally connected to said collar and outer ends releasably engaging said sections, whereby said sections are extended on said panel and the outer side edges of the sections engage the sides of the window frame, means on said links for changing the effecting lengths thereof to vary the spread of said sections with respect to the panel, flanges on the central panel adjacent the top and bottom edges thereof and projecting from the panel oppositely of the window, a screen having its edges secured to said panel and the flanges for enclosing the fan and driving means therefor, and means on the upper portion of REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 966,065 Wallen Aug. 2, 1910 1,227,577 Brewer May 29, 1917 1,241,660 Roberts Oct. 2, 1917 1,870,570 Hueglin Aug. 9, 1932 1,918,907 Sargent July 4, 1933 

